McCain's death reminds central Montanan of his ties to 'Hanoi Hilton'

As senators return to Capitol Hill Monday, many spoke about their admiration for Sen. John McCain and although they may not have always agreed, there was mutual respect. (Aug. 27)

AP

The death of Sen. John McCain brought powerful memories to mind.

No event in my long naval career had a greater emotional impact on me than Operation Homecoming — the action to bring American Prisoners of War home from Hanoi once a peace agreement was reached.

James Stockdale

James Stockdale

U.S. Navy File Photo / Wikimedia Commons

The operation provided for each service to designate one officer for each returning POW. My assignment was to the meet, escort and debrief Capt. James Bond Stockdale, the senior U.S. Navy POW of the 138 Navy personnel.

Despite the extreme sentiment about the Vietnam War, which was tearing the country apart, the military’s goal was to ensure the POW’s would return with honor. After all, some of the POWs had been in captivity, in brutal conditions, for more than seven years.

On Jan. 28, 1973, I was off the coast of North Vietnam on Yankee Station, serving as the senior intelligence officer onboard the USS Constellation.

Strike operations halted when we received word that Henry Kissinger had arranged a ceasefire with the North Vietnamese in Paris the previous day. We remained armed, ready and on alert to resume operations at any time, but the ceasefire held and the POW release was on.

Twelve days later, I received orders directing me to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. Operation Homecoming was underway. Boarding a transport plane, we launched and I was off to my assignment to meet Stockdale. I knew he would be an early returnee among the overall 591 POWS from Hanoi since the longest-held captives generally returned first.

On Feb. 12, 1973, three C-141 transports flew into Hanoi, North Vietnam, and one C-9A aircraft was sent to Saigon, South Vietnam, to pick up released prisoners of war. Homecoming Phase I was a reality. Over the next seven weeks, there were 54 C-141 missions flying out of Hanoi, bringing the former POWs home.

Standing on the tarmac at Clark Air Force Base on Feb. 12, a wave of emotion swept over those of us awaiting the return of the first flight of POWs as their C-141 landed. Several hours later, the second C-141 touched down, and Stockdale, limping badly from an untreated leg injury, came slowly down the ramp onto an American base. Free at last, after seven and a half years of captivity.

Stockdale had led the air attacks on North Vietnamese patrol boats during the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident that led to a major escalation of U.S. involvement in the war. On his next deployment, his A-4 Skyhawk was shot down over North Vietnam on Sept. 9, 1965. Parachuting into a small village, he was beaten severely and captured. Over the next four years, he endured brutal torture and years in isolation, yet he emerged as one of the primary leaders of prisoner resistance.

At Clark Air Force Base, Stockdale and other early returnees went through medical and psychological exams, received good food and were fitted in new uniforms that were carefully prepared with all rank and award insignia. Initial debriefings were held, primarily to obtain time sensitive information including names of all known living and deceased POWs.

Three days later, Stockdale and I, with other POWs and escorts, were onboard a C-141 flying back to San Diego where the last phase of Homecoming took place — detail medical attention and debriefings and reunion with family. My next six weeks were spent with Stockdale recording his exceptional experiences as a resister and leader, for which he received the Medal of Honor.

Lt. Commander John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam on Oct. 26, 1967, when his A-4E was struck by a surface-to-air missile. Both arms and a leg were broken during ejection, and he was bayoneted and beaten during capture. He was refused medical treatment until his captors discovered that his father was Admiral John McCain. John McCain resisted propaganda attempts, receiving frequent beatings and torture similar to most other POWs in the early years. After five and a half years of captivity, his injuries left him permanently incapable of raising his arms above his head.

On March 14, McCain limped off a C-141 onto the tarmac at Clark AFB, greeted by his assigned Homecoming Navy escort. After several days of processing, McCain returned to the U.S. He left the Navy eight years later to launch a national political career that took him to heights of power in the halls of Congress. Sen. John McCain R.I.P.